Lake County council approves economic revitalization area for proposed John Deere site

Lake County Council voted to approve a resolution establishing an economic revitalization area and authorizing real- and personal-property tax deductions tied to a proposed Venture 1/John Deere project after a public hearing in which school officials, fire chiefs and township trustees raised funding and service concerns.

Dr. Andy Anderson, superintendent of Tri Creek School Corporation, told the council the district faces deep revenue losses after state policy changes, saying the state circuit breaker and other restrictions will reduce Tri Creek’s property-tax receipts by about $1.8 million this year and that residential TIFs have already diverted local property taxes the district once counted on. "If and when you raise taxes or assess additional taxes, you can do that, but schools can't," Anderson said, urging the council to ensure the district benefits from any economic-development structure.

County economic-development staff and the developer explained the proposed agreement…